49ers' Johnson appears headed to UCLA

January 12, 2011, 11:40PM

01/12/2011

It appears the 49ers' revamped coaching staff won't include offensive coordinator Mike Johnson, who has reportedly agreed to occupy the same position at UCLA.

The move was reported by Scout.com on Wednesday. UCLA associate athletic director Marc Dellins did not confirm the report.

Norm Chow remains UCLA's offensive coordinator, but the former USC and Titans offensive coordinator was in limbo before the report surfaced. Rivals.com reported Wednesday that Chow is expected to be named the offensive coordinator at Utah, his alma mater.

Johnson, 43, and Neuheisel were both assistants with the Baltimore Ravens in 2006-07. Johnson also has experience in the Pac-10 — he was a backup quarterback at Arizona State (1985-86) and began his coaching career as the wide receivers coach at Oregon State (1997-98).

If hired, Johnson will be charged with turning around a unit that ranked 116th nationally in passing offense in 2010 during the Bruins' 4-8 season.

Johnson spent two seasons in San Francisco. He was the quarterbacks coach until he became the offensive coordinator this past season when Jimmy Raye was fired after a 31-10 loss to the Chiefs on Sept. 26.

In the final 13 games under Johnson, the Niners averaged 20.5 points and 314 yards per game. In the previous 19 games under Raye, they averaged 19.4 points and 293.8 yards per game.

Under Mike Singletary, who preferred a run-heavy attack, it wasn't clear how much autonomy Johnson had in formulating a game plan and play-calling. After Singletary was fired, the Niners had 362 yards and scored 38 points (31 by the offense) in a win over Arizona in their regular-season finale.

ESPN has reported the Niners have contacted veteran NFL offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, 54, currently the coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. Trestman has been an offensive coordinator for the Browns, Cardinals, Raiders and Niners.

Stanford offensive coordinator David Shaw could be a candidate for the position if he isn't named the Cardinal's new head coach. The San Francisco Chronicle also reported that Stanford associate head coach Greg Roman met with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on Tuesday.

Former University of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt could join the Niners staff as a linebackers coach, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Leavitt, 54, was fired last year after he allegedly struck a player in the locker room during halftime of a game against Louisville in 2009. On Tuesday, Leavitt received a $2.75 million settlement after filing a wrongful-termination suit against USF.

Leavitt, who was the only coach in the program's 13-year history prior to his dismissal, was 94-57 at USF, which was briefly ranked No. 2 in the nation during the 2007 season.

It appears the 49ers' revamped coaching staff won't include offensive coordinator Mike Johnson, who has reportedly agreed to occupy the same position at UCLA.

The move was reported by Scout.com on Wednesday. UCLA associate athletic director Marc Dellins did not confirm the report.

Norm Chow remains UCLA's offensive coordinator, but the former USC and Titans offensive coordinator was in limbo before the report surfaced. Rivals.com reported Wednesday that Chow is expected to be named the offensive coordinator at Utah, his alma mater.

Johnson, 43, and Neuheisel were both assistants with the Baltimore Ravens in 2006-07. Johnson also has experience in the Pac-10 — he was a backup quarterback at Arizona State (1985-86) and began his coaching career as the wide receivers coach at Oregon State (1997-98).

If hired, Johnson will be charged with turning around a unit that ranked 116th nationally in passing offense in 2010 during the Bruins' 4-8 season.

Johnson spent two seasons in San Francisco. He was the quarterbacks coach until he became the offensive coordinator this past season when Jimmy Raye was fired after a 31-10 loss to the Chiefs on Sept. 26.

In the final 13 games under Johnson, the Niners averaged 20.5 points and 314 yards per game. In the previous 19 games under Raye, they averaged 19.4 points and 293.8 yards per game.

Under Mike Singletary, who preferred a run-heavy attack, it wasn't clear how much autonomy Johnson had in formulating a game plan and play-calling. After Singletary was fired, the Niners had 362 yards and scored 38 points (31 by the offense) in a win over Arizona in their regular-season finale.

ESPN has reported the Niners have contacted veteran NFL offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, 54, currently the coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. Trestman has been an offensive coordinator for the Browns, Cardinals, Raiders and Niners.

Stanford offensive coordinator David Shaw could be a candidate for the position if he isn't named the Cardinal's new head coach. The San Francisco Chronicle also reported that Stanford associate head coach Greg Roman met with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on Tuesday.

EXTRA POINT

Former University of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt could join the Niners staff as a linebackers coach, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Leavitt, 54, was fired last year after he allegedly struck a player in the locker room during halftime of a game against Louisville in 2009. On Tuesday, Leavitt received a $2.75 million settlement after filing a wrongful-termination suit against USF.

Leavitt, who was the only coach in the program's 13-year history prior to his dismissal, was 94-57 at USF, which was briefly ranked No. 2 in the nation during the 2007 season.